A Story that Stopped the Room
Posted on 10/20/2025
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There wasn’t a dry eye at the Northeast Washington Association of School Administrators (NEWASA) meeting, held in NEWESD 101’s Talbott Event Center on Oct. 16.
Speaking to a room of nearly 80 regional school leaders, Melissa McFadgen, Principal Architect at NAC Architecture in Spokane, shared her family’s story and the unwavering support they’ve received from Liberty School District throughout her son’s journey of treatment and recovery from a brain tumor.
“What you have provided to our family is invaluable,” she said. “School has been our constant in a very unpredictable world. What you do matters. You show up every single day, and we rely on you.”
Her words filled the room with emotion and reminded every educator present why their work matters so deeply. Beyond academics, schools provide connection, compassion, and stability for students and families navigating life’s greatest challenges.